Eating a Vegetarian Elephant

Chiglepig

Yogavibes, he bought a vegetarian cook book at Christmas as a promise!

The extra £500 payment has come off the mortgage, so that's now £124,774.90, although NW add interest daily so it will be a little more than that by the end of the month.

I was thinking about what is possible and what changes I'm prepared to make for it to happen while I was walking the dog this morning, largely sparked by finding my jeans are getting tighter and tighter over lock down.

So first things first, I'm not prepared to buy new clothes, so I have to lose the weight.

Most of the extra kgs I put on is wine, so cutting out alcohol is an easy win for both the waistline and the bank balance. I've replaced the batteries in the wii fit, but haven't built up the courage to actually step on it yet!

I have a gym membership - although haven't paid it for  most of the last 12 months - and once they reopen, I will use it BUT, it's one of those pricey chains, so if I cancelled I'd be £77 a month better off - I like the classes but do I like them that much? I don't think I do.

As I said last week we are frantically price checking every insurance renewal that comes up.

And there are things that have happened as a result of the pandemic that I intend to continue - working from home at least half the week to save on petrol, cooking more from scratch.

I know they are obvious things, but when life got busy, I was guilty of going with the easy option instead of the thoughtful one.

I'll come back a bit later when I've dared step on the scale!

FtbDreaming

Haha good luck on the scales! I’m the same. Refusing to buy bigger clothes. My jeans split at the seams the other day so had to go in the bin 😭 I wish it was alcohol that I could cut out but I do t drink that much. I’m more of a ‘picker’ so I don’t eat loads of big meals but I’ll drink 10 cups of tea a day and whilst I’m making it I’ll eat a couple of slices of ham out the fridge or a chocolate bar. I 100% blame lockdown boredom! 

My gym is only £9.99 a month but that’s with no classes. I’m thinking of investing in a dearer one so I do go to classes as I enjoy them when I get into it. There’s no point trying to be wealthy if we’re not healthy is there! X

Chiglepig

FtbDreaming, oh no! I had to throw away some cords last month because they had worn through completely on the the inside thighs, I need to limit the rub! I don't think I'll give up the gym completely, but I'm going to look at more budget options, both our local secondary schools offer access to the public.

I've also just taken a leap and opened a Vanguard S&S ISA - I've always been somewhat risk averse, but the risk of leaving my longer term savings in cash has just tipped me over the edge. Starting small and relatively conservatively.

Chiglepig

Morning all,

I said I'd report back on the lockdown kgs, so here goes (gulp):

The grand total is 67kg (that's 10st 7lb in old money)

I'd feel comfortable at 57kg.

And why is this a MFW goal? Because wine is my main self-indulgence, consumption crept up over lockdown, so cutting it out is both a health and wealth win. I'd normally relax into the weekend with a bottle, so there's £10 I won't be spending. But just like the mortgage I have to accept that slow steady progress is the way to go.

In other financial house keeping:

• Redirected one regular saver DD that had fallen below 1% to my shiney new S&S ISA - £100 pm
• Nectar Canvass points for the week have been added to my nectar card which now stands at £38.40
• DH has finally been convinced to move the emergency fund from the NS&I account that nets us a grand total of 23p per month into Premium Bonds. He's skeptical, but let's face it, one win in 12 months would beat our current interest rate!

Orangetoes

You are doing really well. I find having a diary is great to keep you accountable. It is also important to enjoy life along the way. For me gym classes are vital so not something I would cut but it is about finding out what works for you. 

Porridgecat

I really need to get the nectar app but then I haven't been into sains more than twice since March as I find a complete lack of any kind of controls in our local one. Mr Porridge is doing most of the shopping at the moment anyway as he has to shop for his mum. 

Chiglepig

Morning All.

Bit of a wasted day yesterday, I had planned a long walk for me and doggo by the river and an afternoon in the garden, but woke up with swollen glands and a swimmy head and spent most of the day asleep

Still not quite right this morning, but I can't bear the thought of going back to work tomorrow without doing anything productive over the weekend.

We've had the smart meter for almost two weeks now and it's showing that our Gas DD is about right for this time of year - which means over all it can probably come down across 12 months, and we are well in credit on electricity. That amazes me because I thought we were really heavy users, especially working from home. Our next bill is due on the 19th, so that will be a good time to review.

In weekly shopping news DH has put wine on the shopping list - I will need to have words, I can't have it in the house if the diet is going to work (that is not an admission I'm proud of). I suspect this week won't be the week I get the shopping under £100, we avoided top-up shops last week and now have to replace a fair few basics, but they will then last the rest of the month.

Another 100points from Nectar Canvass for a survey about (drum roll) making (over)payments to my mortgage! @Porridgecat SB is practically our corner shop, but our spend will go down considerabley when a big new Lidl opens up next door to them later in the Spring.

Although I thought I wouldn't have much to report on, being paid monthly, actually making myself more conscious throughout the month is feeling very positive.

Porridgecat

Good morning, I've also been surprised how many little extra bits of money I've found during the month now I'm so aware of it.

Chiglepig

Still feeling ropey today so I've spent the morning reading MFW diaries; managed to do the shopping yesterday, but that was about it. As predicted it was well over £100 (£156  ), I know that is stupid money for three adults, but it did include a restock of the freezer, two soda stream refills, two bottles of wine for DH (but none for me) and some storecupboard relacements, so aiming for half that next week.

DD has an interview for a job this week, only ten hours a week, but it fits in well for her college course for September and would mean I can reduce her allowance a little, so fingers crossed.

Progress on the diet -0.5kg even without moving as much as usual over the weekend.

If I feel better later, I'm going to make veggie lasagne for the freezer and fenugreek and fennel cauliflower for today - it's my favourite Madhur Jaffrey reciepe and will last three days because I'm the only one who eats it!

Chiglepig

Cedit Card bill for last month came, I was hoping it would be a low one, Feb being a short month and all, but forgot that DH had to buy a new amp for the TV sound system - the one we have was second hand when I bought it in 2000, and has been limping along for months. But it will still be paid off IN FULL! without affecting savings as there is enough surplus in the joint account. If this amp gives me 20+ years of service I will be very happy. (buy well, buy once)